Diabetes mellitus in a koala (Phascolarctos cinereus)

Objective To describe a case of diabetes mellitus in a koala (Phascolarctos cinereus).
Design A case report with controls.
Procedures We describe clinical and laboratory findings in a 6-year-old, free-living, female koala presented with traumatic injury and subsequently found to have polydipsia, hyperglycaemia and glucosuria. Over a 5 week period, serum biochemical analyses, haematological examinations, urinal-yses, measurement of serum insulin and fructosamine concentrations, necropsy, histopathological examination of a range of tissues and immunohistochemical examination of the pancreas for insulin-containing cells were done. For reference purposes, serum insulin and fructosamine concentrations were determined in four and two healthy koalas, respectively, and three healthy koalas pancreases were examined histo-logically and immunohistochemically.
Results The koala had persistent hyperglycaemia, hyperlipidaemia, hyponatraemia, hypochloraemia and glucosuria. Serum insulin concentration of the diabetic koala was only marginally smaller than that of healthy koalas, but all concentrations were smaller than reference concentrations in dogs and people. Fructosamine concentration did not allow the diabetic koala to be distinguished from healthy koalas and concentrations of all koala analytes were greater than expected for healthy dogs and people. Histopathological examination revealed extensive degeneration of pancreatic islet cells and fatty infiltration of hepatocytes. Immunoperoxidase staining revealed decreased or absent insulin in the b cells of the affected koala.
Conclusion Clinical signs, clinicopathological results and histopathological changes were consistent with diabetes mellitus. The pathogenesis of the condition could not be determined but may have been related to the administration of a parenteral corticosteroid preparation, the stress of capture or tissue damage and inflammation.     

Use of quantitative real-time PCR to monitor the shedding and treatment of chlamydiae in the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus)

The aim of this study was to monitor chlamydial shedding patterns in clinically affected koalas before, during and following treatment using quantitative real-time PCR. Swab samples were obtained from 14 koalas presented for treatment at the Australian Wildlife Hospital. Four of these animals were followed over a period of 8–9 weeks. Primers were designed based on the consensus signature sequence of the 16S rRNA chlamydial gene. Additional primers were designed based on the sequence of the koala beta-actin gene and used to normalize chlamydial values when comparing results from different swab samples. Chlamydial 16S rRNA gene copy number was highest in swab samples from clinically affected sites. Daily injections of chloramphenicol resulted in a marked and rapid reduction in the numbers of chlamydiae being shed from all sites. In general, chlamydial copy number was no longer detectable by the end of the 2nd week of treatment. No evidence of relapse of infection was detected at 2 weeks after the cessation of treatment. In contrast, topical chloramphenicol treatment of the eyes required a longer treatment period and had little effect on the shedding of chlamydiae from other sites of the body. Further studies are required to confirm the efficacy of a shorter treatment period.     

法氏囊组织在鸡淋巴细胞性白血病发生发展中的变化

用鸡淋巴细胞性白血病病毒ＲＡＶ－１株接种３５只１日龄伊莎鸡雏,于接毒后不同批次扑杀,采取法氏囊做组织学、免疫细胞化学、透射电镜观察。结果：接毒后１个月,法氏囊滤泡髓质淋巴细胞开始转化,接毒后２～５个月更明显,在法氏囊滤泡髓质区形成淋巴细胞克隆增殖灶。接毒后６个月,法氏囊萎缩。ＢＡ法染色表明法氏囊一直存有病毒和群特异性抗原,以接毒后３～４个月含量最高。电镜观察,在接毒后１～４个月的实验鸡法氏囊滤泡髓质淋巴细胞、巨噬细胞和网状细胞中观察到ＬＬ病毒粒子。组织学、免疫细胞化学和电镜观察都表明法氏囊是该病毒的主要靶器官,法氏囊决定鸡淋巴细胞性白血病的发生发展。     

蛋鸡淋巴白血病的诊断

2011年某蛋鸡场部分病鸡内脏发生增生性肿瘤性疾病,经流行病学调查、临床诊断及实验室检测,确诊为鸡J亚型淋巴白血病。文章就该病例的诊断过程做了详细阐述,并对禽常见传染性肿瘤病的鉴别、白血病的预防和控制进行了归纳总结。     

鸡实验性淋巴细胞性白血病的病理学研究

给３５只１日龄伊莎褐蛋母鸡雏腹腔接种淋巴细胞性白血病病毒ＲＡＶ－１株，应用常规病理技术，对接毒后第１５天、１、２、３、４、５、６个月７个批次的实验鸡做了病理学研究。结果：接毒后１５ｄ和１个月，部分实验鸡发生了成髓细胞性白血病，主要表现为骨髓成髓细胞大量增生，或形成成髓细胞性肿瘤结节，肝、心、肾、法氏囊等内脏器官出现成髓细胞聚集；接毒后２～６个月，实验鸡发生了淋巴细胞性白血病，主要表现为法氏囊髓质淋巴细胞发生转化，成淋巴细胞克隆增殖形成成淋巴细胞克隆增殖灶，在肝、心、肾、脾、腺胃等器官中形成成淋巴细胞性肿瘤结节。据此，可对鸡淋巴细胞性白血病做出病理组织学诊断。     

Predation by carpet pythons (Morelia spilota) is an important cause of mortality in a free‐living koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) population in South East Queensland

Koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) are experiencing significant declines across the northern part of their range. However, unbiased, population‐level estimates of mortality are rarely reported, as it's difficult to quantify causes of mortality robustly in this cryptic species. We aimed to determine the relative importance of carpet python (Morelia spilota) predation in a free‐living koala population and describe the characteristic pathological findings during necropsy. In total, 503 koalas were captured, underwent veterinary examination and telemetric tagging, and were monitored after release over a four‐year period. Mortalities were detected when activity data reported by K‐Tracker® biotelemetry collars indicated low or zero activity, or during routine field monitoring events. Experienced koala veterinarians performed thorough, standardised necropsy examinations on retrieved carcasses to determine causes of death. The three, sometimes subtle, cardinal signs used to definitively diagnose carpet python‐caused deaths of koalas were a U‐shaped primary bite site, slicking of the fur by python saliva (particularly around the face), and diffuse, uniform pulmonary congestion. We found that carpet pythons were important predators of koalas, second only to wild dogs (dingoes and dingo hybrids (Canis familiaris dingo)), accounting for 11.6% of predation deaths and 7.2% of total deaths. Less than half (38%) of the koalas killed by carpet pythons were ingested. Though carpet pythons are known predators of koalas, their relative importance as a cause of mortality hasn't previously been recognised. Population viability analyses and conservation management plans benefit from robust cause‐of‐death data collected during longitudinal monitoring studies, requiring telemetry methods that facilitate rapid detection of mortalities.     

猪呼吸道淋巴组织发育的亚显微结构变化

应用组织学和电镜技术研究猪呼吸道发育过程中淋巴组织的变化。结果表明：扁桃体和咽部是呼吸道进入机体的第一个淋巴组织集中的部位，弥散淋巴组织在出生时就存在，淋巴小结不明显；20日龄时扁桃体中淋巴组织增生，淋巴小结清晰可见；120日龄淋巴小结数量增加，紧靠鳞状上皮密集排列，淋巴小结发育很好，并出现生发中心。扁桃体复层鳞状上皮中含有大量的上皮内淋巴细胞。气管叉是呼吸道进入机体的第二个淋巴组织集中的部位，出生时气管叉外膜中淋巴组织直接与气管支气管淋巴结相连，淋巴组织明显可见。20日龄时气管叉外膜中淋巴组织已分开，形成气管叉外膜密集的淋巴组织和气管支气管淋巴结两个部分。120日龄时气管叉处淋巴组织特别发达，黏膜上皮中上皮内淋巴细胞数量也显著增加。肺内气管和细支气管固有膜中均有较多的淋巴细胞，其中浆细胞数量增加，上皮中仍存在少量的上皮内淋巴细胞。本试验结果提示猪呼吸道是黏膜免疫较理想的诱导位点和效应位点，新生仔猪通过鼻腔免疫可提高呼吸道局部黏膜免疫力。     

法氏囊在鸡淋巴细胞性白血病发生发展中的作用

用鸡淋巴细胞性白血病病毒ＲＡＶ－１株接种３５只１日龄伊莎鸡雏,于接毒后不同批次扑杀,采取法氏囊做组织学、免疫细胞化学、透射电镜观察。结果：接毒后１个月,法氏囊滤泡髓质淋巴细胞开始转化,接毒后２～５个月更明显,在法氏囊滤泡髓质区形成成淋巴细胞克隆增殖灶。接毒后６个月,法氏囊萎缩。生物素－亲和素（ＢＡ）法染色表明法氏囊一直存有病毒和群特异性抗原,以接毒后３～４个月含量最高。电镜观察,在接毒后１～４个月的实验鸡法氏囊滤泡髓质淋巴细胞、巨噬细胞和网状细胞中观察到淋巴细胞性白血病（ＬＬ）病毒粒子。组织学、免疫细胞化学和电镜观察都表明法氏囊是该病的主要靶器官之一,法氏囊在鸡淋巴细胞性白血病的发生发展中起一定的作用     

肠相关性淋巴样组织研究概况

系统论述了肠相关淋巴组织的组成结构及其在肠道黏膜免疫中的功能作用，同时，概述了肠相关淋巴组织在消化道感染中的可能作用，并指出从黏膜免疫的角度来研究畜禽消化道疾病的病原体与消化道粘膜感染的关系是揭示这类疾病发生机理的一个新的突破点，它将为策划新的防制战略以控制畜禽消化道疾病的发生和消化道感染提供重要的依据。     

Canine acute leukaemia: 50 cases (1989–2014)

Acute leukaemia (AL) is a bone marrow malignancy of hematopoietic progenitors that historically is poorly responsive to treatment. With the widespread adoption of dose‐intense chemotherapy, more human patients attain long‐term survivals, but whether comparable progress has been made in canine AL is unknown. To investigate this question, medical records from three academic veterinary hospitals were reviewed. Fifty dogs met the criteria for AL, having excess circulating or marrow blasts, a major cytopenia(s), and no substantial lymphadenopathy. Thirty‐six dogs received cytotoxic chemotherapy; 23 achieved a complete or partial response for a median of 56 days (range, 9–218). With failure or relapse, 14 dogs were rescued. Median survival with treatment was poor at 55 days (range, 1–300). Untreated (n = 6) and palliatively‐treated (n = 8) dogs lived a median of 7.5 days. Most dogs developed chemoresistance within weeks of initiating treatment, and consequently, survival times for AL remain disappointingly short.     

Intestinal neoplasia in horses

BACKGROUND: Intestinal neoplasia of horses is inadequately described. HYPOTHESIS: Intestinal neoplasia of horses has characteristic clinicopathologic features. ANIMALS: Thirty-four horses with intestinal neoplasia. METHODS: Retrospective study. RESULTS: Anamnesis, clinical signs, clinicopathologic and pathologic findings in 34 adult horses diagnosed histologically with intestinal neoplasia were reviewed. The horses ranged in age from 2 to 30 years (mean 16.6 years at presentation). The Arabian breed was most represented and there was no sex predisposition. The most common presenting complaints were weight loss, colic, anorexia, and fever. The most consistent clinical signs were poor body condition, tachycardia, tachypnea, fever, and diarrhea. Useful diagnostic tools included rectal examination, routine blood analyses, abdominocentesis, ultrasonographic examination, rectal biopsy, and exploratory laparotomy. Alimentary lymphoma was the most common intestinal neoplasia identified, followed by adenocarcinoma and smooth muscle tumors. The small intestine was the most common segment of intestine affected for all neoplasms. Intestinal neoplasia was diagnosed antemortem in 13 of 34 (38%) horses. The median time from onset of clinical signs to death or euthanasia was 1.9 months. The discharge rate was 15%. Although the longest survival was observed in horses with jejunal adenocarcinoma, all horses were eventually euthanized because of intestinal neoplasia. CONCLUSIONS: Arabian horses were 4.5 times more likely to have intestinal neoplasia diagnosed than were other breeds.     

Angiogenesis and cerebral neoplasia

Angiogenesis is a fundamental process in reproduction and wound healing. It is a tightly regulated process causing neovascularization. However, if angiogenesis becomes unregulated, it may be responsible for several disease processes such as brain tumour growth and metastasis. An understanding of the factors implicated in angiogenesis and its inhibition is essential if they are to be exploited as possible clinical treatments for brain tumours. Unfortunately, there are multiple factors known to be involved in the regulation of angiogenesis, and hence, the clinical application of any single agent may not be effective. This article summarizes the processes of blood vessel formation in the brain, examines the angiogenic factors that are important in the nervous system and discusses their role in brain tumour development and possible treatment.     

Leukaemic neoplasia in free-living mammals in Denmark

In a material of free-living mammals collected and necropsied during the period 1934–1984, leukaemic neoplasia was found in 1 roe deer, 1 red deer and 15 brown hares. In order to determine the types of leukaemia, a histological reexamination of the tissues was performed. The two deer had the same type, while 4 different types were found in the hares. There was no evidence suggesting a contagious nature of the neoplasia or an accumulation of cases within certain geographic areas.     

Detection of serum alpha-fetoprotein in dogs with naturally occurring malignant neoplasia

Serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) concentrations were determined, by use of an automated microparticle enzyme-linked immunoassay (MEIA), in 16 control dogs and 48 dogs with previously untreated, histologically confirmed, naturally occurring neoplasia (17 dogs with lymphoma and 31 dogs with nonhematopoietic malignancies, 13 dogs with carcinomas, 18 dogs with sarcomas). Mean serum AFP concentrations for untreated dogs with lymphoma, for dogs with sarcomas, and for dogs with carcinomas were not significantly different from the mean serum AFP concentration for the 16 untreated control dogs. Mean serum AFP concentration for dogs with transitional cell carcinoma (n=7) was not significantly different from the mean serum AFP concentration for the control dogs. It has been shown previously by others that a mean serum AFP concentration > 225 ng/mL is suggestive of a hepatic malignancy (e.g., hepatocellular carcinoma, lymphoma). In our study, all 48 dogs had a normal complete blood count, serum biochemical analysis, and urinalysis. Only one of the 48 dogs was found to have a serum AFP concentration > 225 ng/mL. Later evaluation of this dog confirmed hepatic involvement with lymphoma. AFP can be detected in the serum of dogs with naturally occurring tumors using the MEIA technique. A serum AFP concentration above that observed in normal dogs is not a common finding in dogs with naturally occurring neoplasia; however, we confirmed that a serum AFP concentration > 225 ng/mL, with or without evidence of a serum biochemical abnormality, may suggest primary and/or secondary hepatic involvement with a neoplastic disease and may warrant an adjustment in clinical stage and prognosis. A prospective diagnostic and therapeutic evaluation of dogs, with naturally occurring tumors having an elevated serum AFP concentration would determine the validity of this conclusion.     

Equine ocular neoplasia: A review

The following article discusses the clinical appearance, diagnosis and therapeutic options for ocular neoplasia in the horse based on anatomic location.     

Diagnostic challenges: Equine thoracic neoplasia

The diagnosis of thoracic neoplasia in the horse can be difficult due to the nonspecific nature of the clinical signs and their overlap with other pulmonary diseases. Haematological and serum biochemical evaluation, thoracic ultrasonography, radiography, endoscopic examination, and, where appropriate, thoracocentesis and pleural fluid cytology may all be helpful in reaching a diagnosis. Granular cell tumours are the most frequently reported primary pulmonary tumours of horses. They occur as single or multiple masses adjacent to bronchi and bronchioles, and the mass typically extends into the airway, resulting in partial or complete occlusion of the lumen. Thymic tumours are classified as benign or metastatic, based on evidence of tissue invasiveness, even though they uniformly appear benign histologically. These tumours are derived from epithelial reticular cells of the thymus and are rare in horses. Other primary thoracic neoplasms originate from various pulmonary tissues and are primarily reported as single case reports: pulmonary and bronchial carcinoma and adenocarcinoma, bronchogenic squamous cell carcinoma, bronchial myxoma, pulmonary chondrosarcoma, pulmonary leiomyosarcoma and pleuropulmonary blastoma. Clinical signs of these primary pulmonary neoplasms are dependent on the tumour type and location, but commonly include chronic cough, weight loss, anorexia, fever and respiratory difficulty; ventral oedema, pleural effusion and epistaxis are also frequently observed. Mesothelioma is a rare primary pleural tumour arising from the mesothelium of the pleura, pericardium and peritoneum. The clinical presentation in horses includes weight loss, respiratory difficulty and large volume pleural effusion. The tumour appears ultrasonographically as multiple small nodules on a thick serosal surface and pleural biopsy is diagnostic. Lymphoma is the most common haematopoietic neoplasm in horses, which can present with 4 main manifestations of lesions: mediastinal, multicentric, alimentary and cutaneous. Common clinical features include chronic weight loss, lethargy, anorexia, subcutaneous oedema, lymphadenopathy, colic, bleeding tendency and diarrhoea. Coughing and laboured respiratory effort are often apparent in individuals suffering from mediastinal masses. In such instances, pleural effusion may result in severe pulmonary atelectasis and pulmonary function is significantly compromised. Haemangiosarcoma is the second most common metastatic thoracic neoplasm in horses. Disseminated haemangiosarcoma is aggressive and rapidly progressive. The clinical presentation often includes tachypnoea, pale or icteric mucous membranes, respiratory distress, epistaxis, and subcutaneous, cutaneous or intramuscular masses. Other tumour types that metastasise to the thoracic cavity include adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, fibrosarcoma, metastatic melanoma, mastocytoma and undifferentiated sarcoma. The clinical features of these tumours are generally nonspecific and often relate more to the primary site of tumour formation.     

Computed tomographic appearance of equine sinonasal neoplasia

The computed tomography (CT) features of tumors involving the nasal cavity and/or paranasal sinuses of 15 horses were reviewed. The 15 tumors included five neuroendocrine tumors/neuroblastomas, two undifferentiated carcinomas, two myxosarcomas, and one each of nasal adenocarcinoma, hemangiosarcoma, chondroblastic osteosarcoma, anaplastic sarcoma, myxoma, and ossifying fibroma. All tumors except the ossifying fibroma were iso- or hypoattenuating relative to masseter muscle. Thirteen of the fifteen tumors exhibited moderate or marked osteolysis of adjacent cortical bone and 14/15 were characterized by destructive changes of the nasal turbinates, nasal septum, and/or infraorbital canal. Ten horses had moderate or marked involvement of the cribriform plate and six had clear intracranial extension of the mass. CT features were compared to radiographic findings for 10 horses. A mass was observed in 10/10 radiographic studies and mass within the caudal maxillary sinus (7/8) and rostral maxillary sinus (6/7) was identified correctly in most horses. The radiographs were least sensitive for identifying masses within the sphenopalatine sinus (0/5), cranium (0/4), and retrobulbar space (1/7) compared to CT. The radiographs also underestimated potential features of malignancy, such as severity of osteolysis or osseous production. While radiographs are a useful screening tool for identification of sinonasal masses, CT provides greater information regarding mass extent, features of malignancy, and important prognostic indicators.     

MRI characteristics of canine prostatic neoplasia

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been used to evaluate dogs with suspected prostatic neoplasia, however, published studies describing MRI characteristics of canine prostatic neoplasia are currently lacking. The aims of the current retrospective case series study were to describe MRI findings of the pelvic region in dogs with a histopathologic or cytologic diagnosis of prostatic neoplasia. Retrospective analysis of these images was then performed by a board-certified veterinary radiologist for shared imaging characteristics. The most consistent characteristics were heterogeneous hyperintensity of the tumor on T2-weighted images (10/10) and short tau inversion recovery images (10/10), prostatic capsular margin distortion by the tumor (10/10), cavitations (10/10), complete effacement of the prostatic architecture (9/10), neurovascular bundle (NVB) compression or invasion (9/10), heterogeneous isointensity of the tumor on T1-weighted images (9/10), and strong contrast enhancement of the tumor (8/10). Additional features included an overlying pattern of distorted radiating striations (7/10), regional lymphadenomegaly (5/10), mineralization within the mass (5/10), urinary bladder trigone involvement (6/10), and post-prostatic urethral involvement (7/10). These findings supported the use of MRI as an adjunct imaging modality for diagnosis and therapeutic planning of prostatic neoplasia and including prostatic neoplasia as a likely differential diagnosis for dogs with these MRI characteristics.